Astros report: Wright serves as team sage

Houston Astros starting pitcher Jordan Lyles reacts after allowing Baltimore Orioles designated hitter Henry Urrutia to single in the sixth inning of a baseball game on Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, in Baltimore. Lyles allowed a run to score later in the sixth before being relieved and Baltimore won 6-3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

Photo: Patrick Semansky, STF

It's getting to be a little weird, and Wesley Wright knows it.

Starting pitchers arrive and depart. Infielders and outfielders are constantly exchanged. Young players are called up from Class AAA Oklahoma City and sent back down, only to return weeks later.

Wright stays.

The 5-11, 185-pound lefthander who entered the season as the longest-tenured Astro is still the longest-tenured Astro, despite the departures of veterans including Rick Ankiel, Carlos Pena, Jose Veras, Justin Maxwell and Bud Norris

"I don't know if it's good or bad, but I'll take it. It's an interesting place to be. But I'm just focused on trying to finish the year out strong," said Wright, who has a 4.12 ERA and 2.85 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 49 games.

Like the rest of the Astros' MLB-worst bullpen (5.13 ERA), Wright, 28, has been inconsistent this season. But the six-year veteran has been a steady pro in the clubhouse and during non-pitching days. With the Astros lacking proven players who have lived through multiple major league seasons, manager Bo Porter said Wright's presence is essential.

Astros update: The Astros have been announcing their starting pitchers as late as possible during the past week - including two scratches - and Thursday was no different. Despite having an opening for a fifth pitcher, only four were announced. Brett Oberholtzer, Brad Peacock and Lucas Harrell are among the candidates for the No. 5 spot.

Twins update: The Astros selected Carlos Correa with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 MLB amateur draft and acquired three more prospects by splitting their bonus pool money. The player the Astros passed on, outfielder Byron Buxton, is on the fast track to Minnesota. Buxton, 19, is hitting .322 with 12 home runs, 71 RBIs, 38 stolen bases and a .936 OPS and has risen to high Class A.

Brian T. Smith

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"One of the biggest hurdles is getting over the hurdle of learning how to accept the struggles that happen here and move beyond it," Porter said. "And I actually think a lot of these young guys have been able to learn from Wesley's struggles. Because if you know Wesley Wright, he's the same guy every day."

An alumni game for ex-RedHawks

Jimmy Paredes' third stint with the Astros this season added more Class AAA flavor to a 25-man roster already loaded with players who spent time in Oklahoma City this year.

Porter wants the youngest club in baseball (average age of 25.7) to embrace its youth and spend the final two months this season as a playoff spoiler forming an identity for 2014.

"It's very important to build momentum moving into next year. We have a great group of guys here. We've taken some lumps," Porter said. "But I've said this the whole year, from the beginning of spring training to the whole way through: This is a resilient group. There's no quit in them. We're going to fight to the end. And every team that they put in front of us, I tell you what, don't let the record fool you because we're going to come to play every night."

Paredes fills in for Altuve

Jimmy Paredes played right field and third base for the Astros during his initial two call-ups. Thursday, he filled in at second base for Jose Altuve, who is dealing with a left quadriceps strain.

Paredes didn't play second for Oklahoma City this season. But he said before Thursday's game he was ready for the challenge, and he made a smooth pivot on a potential first-inning double play and robbed J.J. Hardy of a hit in the eighth with a sparkling backhanded stop.

"It's a good idea and good stuff for me. I'm going to focus on what I have to do," said Paredes.

Paredes, 24, is hitting just .178 with one home run, eight RBIs and a .477 on-base plus slugging percentage in 37 games this season. He has struck out 38 times in 101 at-bats.

But while Paredes has struggled in the majors, he has hit well at Class AAA, batting .319 with an .879 OPS.

Brian T. Smith is a sports columnist for the Houston Chronicle. He has won multiple Associated Press Sports Editors awards and been honored by numerous journalism organizations. Smith was a Houston Texans beat writer for the Chronicle from 2013-15 and an Astros beat writer from 2012-13. The New Orleans-area native previously covered the NBA's Utah Jazz (The Salt Lake Tribune) and Portland Trail Blazers (The Columbian), among other beats. He is the author of the book Liftoff, which documented the Astros' rebuild and 2017 World Series championship.

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